The Story I Wasn’t Ready to Tell | My Testimony of Heartbreak, Faith & Redemption

I don't think I've ever told you the whole story. I've shared pieces of my life here and there—the heartbreak, the toxic relationship, the waiting, the surrender, the Holy Pause, and the healing. But I've never sat down and told you how it all started. So today, I'm telling you the story I wasn't ready to tell before. I grew up in the Mormon church and spent the first 18 years of my life living inside a very structured world. The day after I graduated high school, I left home ready to experience freedom—and I ran straight into the world. Drinking. Partying. Wrong crowds. Relationships. Situationships. Searching for something I couldn't quite name. I tried college twice while working full-time, opened businesses that failed, experienced heartbreak and setbacks, and spent years trying to build a life on my own strength. Then my sister told me about Jesus. And slowly, God began taking me on a journey I never could have planned. I share about my first marriage, the toxic relationship that followed, the years of difficult co-parenting, and the season that nearly broke me. Then I take you to 2016—the year I had a dream that God was telling me to die to my flesh. Shortly afterward, I walked to my mailbox and found a dried-up branch sitting beautifully on top of it. When I picked it up, God brought John 15:5 to my heart: “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.” At that point, I was completely broke and standing in a season of stripping. And suddenly, I understood. I couldn't keep trying to be my own source. I needed the Vine. That moment became part of the beginning of a completely different life. A life of surrender. A life of waiting. A life of learning who God really was—not just what religion had taught me. And eventually, after years of waiting and walking with God, came another unexpected chapter: finding my middle-school crush again after more than a decade. But even that story wasn't simply about finding a man. God had been preparing me. And when He eventually asked me to lay that relationship at the altar too, I learned that even something beautiful has to belong to Him first. This episode is my story of running, heartbreak, brokenness, surrender, waiting, restoration, and discovering that God had never stopped pursuing me. And if you're listening from your own messy chapter, I hope you hear this: Your story isn't over. Maybe you've run from God. Maybe you've made choices you're not proud of. Maybe you've been through a toxic relationship. Maybe you've lost years. Maybe you're sitting in the middle of a heartbreak wondering how God could possibly make something beautiful out of what you've been through. Girl… He can. Because if He can take my story and redeem it, He can do something with yours too. You don't have to have it all figured out. You don't have to clean yourself up before you come to God. Come as you are. He knows exactly where you are. And He knows how to find you there. In This Episode Growing up in the Mormon church and leaving home after high school Running toward the world and searching for something I couldn't find Discovering Jesus through my sister My first marriage and realizing it wasn't what God had for me The toxic relationship that followed and the heartbreak that came with it Years of difficult co-parenting and learning to keep going Trying to build businesses and a life on my own—and watching it all fall apart The 2016 dream that changed the direction of my life The dried branch on my mailbox and John 15:5 What it meant to finally stop trying to be my own source Years of surrender, waiting, loneliness, and spiritual growth The freedom God brought in 2025 Finding my middle-school crush again after more than a decade Why God asked me to lay that relationship at the altar What I've learned about God's grace, restoration, and redemption A message of hope for the woman who thinks her story is already too broken Scripture John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches… apart from me you can do nothing.” Isaiah 61:3 God gives “beauty for ashes.” If You're in Your Own Holy Rescue If you're in the middle of heartbreak, a breakup, a toxic relationship, or simply wondering what God is doing with your life right now, I want you to know this: God is not finished writing your story. Your past doesn't get the final word. Your mistakes don't get the final word. Your heartbreak doesn't get the final word. Jesus does. And sometimes the greatest rescue isn't God changing your circumstances. Sometimes it's God changing you in the middle of them. This is your Holy Rescue. 🤍 I'll see you next Thursday at 5:00 AM. STAY CONNECTED 💌 Join The Holy Rescue Newsletter When you join the newsletter, you'll receive: 🎧 Podcast updates, listener Q&As, and behind-the-scenes moments. 🔐 Early access to upcoming releases, special announcements, and new drops inside The Vault. A curated collection of creations, art prints, books, resources, and meaningful pieces from this journey. 📖✨BE THE FIRST TO KNOW WHEN THE BOOK DROPS! 📖✨ 👉 https://girldatethegoodguy.com 🎧 Listen to Girl, Date the Good Guy Follow the show so you never miss an episode. ⭐️ Help Another Woman Find Her Holy Rescue If this episode spoke to your heart today, please take 30 seconds to leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your words help the algorithm push this message out to the exact woman who needs this rescue right now. 🤍 👉 Click Here to Leave Your Review on Apple Podcasts (If you are on an iPhone, this link will open your Apple Podcasts app instantly. If you are on an Android or desktop, it will guide you through the quickest way to leave your Apple review!) Thank you for walking this journey with me, sis. Keep your eyes on Jesus! 👑 🤍 Connect with Emily [email protected] Listen to Emily's Song Want a little more Emily Jordan? Listen to “I'm a Real Woman” by Emily Jordan on Apple Music. Listen to “I'm a Real Woman” on Apple Music